Sunday Summary for April 14, 2013

Let me begin this Sunday Summary with the last point of the Sunday message. Psalm 30:4 tells us "Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name." As I reflect on this past Lord's day, I am filled with gratitude for the Lord's blessing in our fellowship. I "give thanks to his holy name" for His blessings upon our day of worship.

Last week I began a series of sermons on the book of Ephesians. I am planning on focusing on what we learn of our identity in Christ through the book of Ephesians. Last week was introductory and this week we focused on verses 1-3, of the first chapter. The letter of Ephesians is like a spiritual Mega Vitamin that is packed with thought-transforming, heart-refreshing and life-changing truth!

Paul began the letter identifying himself as an "apostle of Christ Jesus" and the recipients of his letter as "the saints." What a great identity for all of us who are "in Christ", we are "saints"!

Paul Tripp wrote in "How People Change," "We are always living out some sense of identity. You are constantly telling yourself who you are, and the identity you assign yourself has much to do with how you respond to the difficulties of life."

So, I began the message with three little words that have a tremendous impact for each of us; "Who am I?" How would you answer that question? Who are you?

• Spouse
• Child
• Adopted
• Rejected
• Farmer
• Retired
• Buisnessman
• Suffering
• Survivor
• Hurting

Answers are as diverse as the person who answers the question. While these words, or any other term that you use, may help to EXPLAIN you they do not DEFINE you. Scripture clearly proclaims that all who are in Christ are "Saints."

Here are the six qualities of a saint that we learned from the Word on Sunday.

1. A Saint in SAVED
The Bible Knowledge Commentary in commenting on verse one states: "The faithful in Christ Jesus further defines the "saints" and could be rendered "that is, the believers in Christ Jesus." A "saint" is a saint not by any merit on their behalf. We are only "saints" when we are "in Christ." One of our church members summed it up well; he said: "The difference between a sinner and a saint is that one is saved and the other ain't."

2. A Saint is SANCTIFIED
The Greek word for "saint" is hagios and it has the idea of being holy or being set apart. As a "saint" we are set apart "from" and set apart "unto." In writing to the Corinthians, Paul wrote; "To the church of God that is Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (1 Cor. 1:2). Being a "saint" deals with our POSITION in Christ while our "sanctification" deals with our PROGRESS.

Makes you wonder why we try so hard to FIT IN when we are called to STAND OUT.

3. A Saint is SIN LESS
Actually we are not sinless but we should sin less.
I really like how Mark Driscoll said it in his book: "Who Do You Think You Are? Finding Your True Identity in Christ"

“It’s important to note, however, that while in Christ we’re genuinely new, we’re not completely new until our resurrection. As theologian Anthony Hoekema says, “Believers… should see themselves and each other as persons who are genuinely new, though not yet totally new.” This explains why Christians are not without sin. Indeed, 1 John 1:8 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” A SAINT does sin. But a Christian is one who has saint as their constant identity and sinner as their occasional activity." (p. 35)

"Sin may explain some of your activity, but it is not your identity." (p. 35)

“As saints, we are tempted to sin, just as Jesus Christ was when he walked on the earth. Yet, because we are in Christ, and Christ in us by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are not obligated to sinfully respond to temptation. Instead through a changed heart and mind in Christ we can remember our identity, say no to sin, and approach God as Jesus Christ did.” (p. 37)

4. A Saint will SUFFER
It seems that when we suffer we wonder where God is and why we are allowed to have difficulties in life. We wonder how it is possible to be called a "saint" and yet to face trials and hardships. Well the testimony of Scripture and of life is that saints do suffer (Daniel 7:21, Acts 9:13, Romans 15:26, and 2 Timothy 3:12).


5. A Saint will SERVE
Ephesians 4:11-12 remind us that pastors ans teachers minister "to equip the saints for the work of ministry," A saint will serve not to be a saint but because they are a saint.






6. A Saint will SING
No, you don't have to join a choir or be in a singing group; but you will have a song in your heart. Just the thought that in God's eye I am a saint because I am in Christ Jesus is enough to give me a song. So the Psalmist calls us to "Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name." (Psalm 30:4).


Who are you? If you are in Christ, you are a SAINT. Live like one this week.


Pastor Mike